Volume 1 - CH 15

Before going on our date, we stopped by the love nest of Hayashi and her ex-boyfriend. There, we found a used condom. Despite the fact that we were about to go on a date, it was a difficult start to the day.

Feeling a bit awkward, I left Hayashi in the bedroom and went to the living room alone. I really didn’t want to stay in such a dusty room even for a second, but Hayashi was looking for the clothes she wanted and ordered me to wait outside.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Achoo!”

I greeted Hayashi with a sneeze. It seemed that she wasn’t worried about the thing we found together in the bedroom earlier.

“Hey, it suits you. …Achoo!”

“Thank you. I would’ve been happier if you’d held back your sneezes, though.”

“I’m sorry for ruining the mood.”

I apologized sincerely, but in the first place, it was Hayashi who brought me to such a dusty room. Was there really a need for me to apologize?

“Anyway, I was a bit surprised.”

Not realizing my trivial thoughts, Hayashi said.

“What surprised you?”

“The fact that you honestly complimented my outfit.”

“…What’s so surprising about that?”

“Well, you’re always so guarded.”

I couldn’t say I wasn’t guarded, so I kept my mouth shut.

“I just couldn’t imagine you honestly complimenting someone.”

“That’s not true. I’m always complimenting people.”

“You’re always lying.”

“I’m not lying. …Or maybe I am, I’m not sure.”

“I knew it.”

“…I guess I just honestly thought you looked good in that outfit and that I should compliment you.”

Calmly, I analyzed my own words and actions. The answer I came up with was so ordinary that it seemed unnecessary to even think about it. Well, that girl was a famous beauty in high school. It’s obvious that any clothes she wears would look good on her.

“What’s wrong? Your face is red. …Achoo!”

“…It’s nothing. Let’s get out of this room soon.”

“Let’s do that. My nose can’t take it anymore.”

“…I’m honestly sorry.”

Finally, we left the room of Hayashi’s ex-boyfriend. We stepped out, locked the door, and went outside… Hayashi was looking up at the apartment building.

“What’s wrong?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

A tinge of sadness was visible on Hayashi’s face. Regardless of the circumstances, she had spent several months living here. She shared time with the man she loved in one way or another. They spent intense moments together.

She must be thinking of things I could never comprehend. Perhaps even she doesn’t understand why she’s looking up at the apartment building.

“Well, shall we go?”

“Yeah.”

We started walking. Most likely, we would never come back here again. Neither I nor Hayashi, of course.

The journey to get here had been terrible. Hayashi’s face was pale, and I was worried about her, which made it all the more unbearable.

But as we left the apartment building, our hearts felt incredibly light. Is it because we’re going on a date with Hayashi from now on? Or is it because I see her cheerful face beside me?

Probably, both are correct.

Even so, I never thought this would happen back in high school. Going on a date with Hayashi.

…At that time, I hated Hayashi. I hated her arrogant, competitive, and snobbish personality. I think she probably felt the same way about me.

We never thought we’d meet again on such foreign land, far from our hometown, and spend time under the same roof.

However, after living with her for two weeks, I’ve come to realize something.

Surprisingly, spending time with her isn’t that bad.

But our time together will end soon.

She doesn’t need someone like me to protect her anymore. Once that happens, she probably shouldn’t be with someone like me.

This date will likely be our last memory together.

A final memory of the two of us, who used to despise each other.

The day it was decided that I would shelter Hayashi, I had thought about refusing to protect her. As memories of her from high school crossed my mind, I felt sympathy for her situation, but I didn’t want to be with her.

However, after living together… surprisingly, I began to think that those times weren’t so bad after all.

I never thought I would develop such feelings.

…I never thought so.

That I would still want to live with Hayashi.

If I were to tell my past self that such a day would come, I probably wouldn’t believe it.